It is not often that I go to Mumbai, but it so happens that destiny sends me to Mumbai every 3 years. This February 2014, out of the blue, I had to take a one day leave from my office and catch a train to Mumbai. And how could I not go, for my best friend was leaving for Australia.
Mumbai Calling
The moment I put my foot down on Andheri Station, I could feel that familiar welcome call from the ‘city that never sleeps’. One could also feel the call to step in again to the lifeline of lakhs of citizens of the city-The local train.
I reached Andheri at 5:30 am in early morning, though not so early as per the local life of Mumbai. My brother was there to receive me and take me to his home. But, when anyone enters the city, there is a feeling of urgency in everyone’s feet.
BRTS: Gujarat’s Answer to Mumbai’s Local Trains
So, after I got ready to meet my friend at his home at Lower Parel, I again went to catch the Western lines local train. Suggestion was given to purchase a 1st class ticket as I was not accustomed to crowds in the locals, but little did my kid brother know that I was habituated to travelling in Gujarat’s answer to the local trains-The BRTS of Ahmedabad. The 1st class ticket cost me 65 bucks. As I went to the platform at 8 am, the ‘normal’ routine scene greeted me.
A Normal Day at a Mumbai Railway Platform
I have always enjoyed in local trains irrespective of the stories that are doing the rounds about pick pockets, rude fellow travellers, accidents etc. I have never experienced anyone of them. As, I went to the platform to catch the local to Lower Parel, a familiar sight came into view-People running here and there, office people grabbing a bite of the staple (fast) food of Mumbai-Vada Pav while on the go, Newspapers being read, people desperately getting in and out of the local trains and much more.
And why not, with each train having a waiting time of only 20 to 30 seconds, no one wants to be left behind and be late for office. I was surprised when people actually were hanging in the overly crowded local trains by holding other passenger’s collar near the entrance ( Or closing. It is all the same).
My Experience of People and Local Train
Since I had enough time, I waited for the ‘right local’ to come. I found all types of people at the platform: Marathis, Gujju’s, Marwadis, Sindhi’s and of course the ever intelligent South Indians. People were talking of a recent cricket match, a nearby share market deal was going on, some college boys were discussing projects and new girls in their college and locality, while women were discussing their daily struggles at the office.
My anticipated ideal, less crowded train never arrived during the peak hours, so I pushed myself into the next local which came on the platform in the 1st class, which was no less than other compartments in terms of crowd. The only benefit of travelling in 1st class is you expect to see and actually find decent sophisticated crowd as fellow passengers, who suddenly become just like school children going on a picnic.
My next half hour was very eventful, but more in the second part of the story
Mumbai Calling
The moment I put my foot down on Andheri Station, I could feel that familiar welcome call from the ‘city that never sleeps’. One could also feel the call to step in again to the lifeline of lakhs of citizens of the city-The local train.
I reached Andheri at 5:30 am in early morning, though not so early as per the local life of Mumbai. My brother was there to receive me and take me to his home. But, when anyone enters the city, there is a feeling of urgency in everyone’s feet.
BRTS: Gujarat’s Answer to Mumbai’s Local Trains
So, after I got ready to meet my friend at his home at Lower Parel, I again went to catch the Western lines local train. Suggestion was given to purchase a 1st class ticket as I was not accustomed to crowds in the locals, but little did my kid brother know that I was habituated to travelling in Gujarat’s answer to the local trains-The BRTS of Ahmedabad. The 1st class ticket cost me 65 bucks. As I went to the platform at 8 am, the ‘normal’ routine scene greeted me.
A Normal Day at a Mumbai Railway Platform
I have always enjoyed in local trains irrespective of the stories that are doing the rounds about pick pockets, rude fellow travellers, accidents etc. I have never experienced anyone of them. As, I went to the platform to catch the local to Lower Parel, a familiar sight came into view-People running here and there, office people grabbing a bite of the staple (fast) food of Mumbai-Vada Pav while on the go, Newspapers being read, people desperately getting in and out of the local trains and much more.
And why not, with each train having a waiting time of only 20 to 30 seconds, no one wants to be left behind and be late for office. I was surprised when people actually were hanging in the overly crowded local trains by holding other passenger’s collar near the entrance ( Or closing. It is all the same).
My Experience of People and Local Train
Since I had enough time, I waited for the ‘right local’ to come. I found all types of people at the platform: Marathis, Gujju’s, Marwadis, Sindhi’s and of course the ever intelligent South Indians. People were talking of a recent cricket match, a nearby share market deal was going on, some college boys were discussing projects and new girls in their college and locality, while women were discussing their daily struggles at the office.
My anticipated ideal, less crowded train never arrived during the peak hours, so I pushed myself into the next local which came on the platform in the 1st class, which was no less than other compartments in terms of crowd. The only benefit of travelling in 1st class is you expect to see and actually find decent sophisticated crowd as fellow passengers, who suddenly become just like school children going on a picnic.
My next half hour was very eventful, but more in the second part of the story
